3.3 Choosing a car

The choice of vehicle is also important. The simplest choice is to avoid high-emissions vehicles such as urban four-wheel drives and to aim for the lowest emissions vehicle that will do what you really need it for. However, it is not simply the case that big cars are bad while small cars are good. Research also shows that most car buyers are motivated by cost, although for Vehicle Excise Duty (road tax) to have an effect, despite increases, the higher bands need to be much more expensive than they are currently.

Similarly, there are a variety of fuel alternatives (e.g. diesel, petrol, hybrid, LPG, electric, hydrogen and vegetable oil) and it has become clear that most people do not understand the fuel efficiency and carbon emissions information given in car advertisements. As well as environmental benefits, green cars offer lower fuel, tax and (in some areas, parking) costs, and appear to command a better resale value.

For advice on buying a ‘green’ car see:

• the Green Car Guide

• the Green Car Guide's ‘Why buy a green car?’.